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Money Raised In Memory Of Man Who Died On Gatwick Express Train

Over six thousand pounds has been raised in just a day for a memorial for 24 year old from East Grinstead who died after a head injury on a gatwick express train at the weekend.

Friends have paid tribute to a ``life-long railway fanatic'' who died after he put his head out of a train carriage window.

The accident happened as Simon Brown was travelling on the Gatwick Express at Wandsworth Common station in south London on Sunday.

Friend Reuben Smith has launched a fundraising page to help cover the costs of the funeral.

Mr Brown, originally from East Grinstead, West Sussex, first volunteered on the Bluebell Railway as a nine-year-old and had recently taken up a position as an engineering technician with Hitachi Rail Europe in Bristol.

Mr Smith, a railway conductor, said: ``Railways were his life. I have known him since we were 12. It is very sad.''

Writing on his fundraising page, Mr Smith said: ``Simon was a great friend of ours and a real light in the railway world. He was always smiling, cheerful and would bend over backwards to help anyone. There's now a massive hole in our close-knit community where he was.

``He has been taken from us at the age of 24 - it's far too young.

``Please donate. I want to help ease the burden of the cost of the funeral for his parents.''

British Transport Police (BTP) believe Mr Brown may have been leaning out of a train door window when he suffered a blow to the head at around 5.30pm on Sunday.

Dismissing reports that he may have been decapitated, BTP said they have reported the incident to the Rail Accident Investigation Branch.

A BTP spokesman said: ``The death is being treated as non-suspicious and the circumstances, including what caused the head injuries, are still being investigated.''

Mr Brown's family have been informed of his death and a file is being prepared for the coroner.

A Gatwick Express spokesman said the train had been travelling to London Victoria from Gatwick Airport.

He added: ``The emergency services attended the scene at Wandsworth Common station and, despite their best efforts, they were unable to save him. We send our condolences to his family.

``We are co-operating fully with British Transport Police and the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, who are investigating this incident.''